Introduction to Dairy Production in Ireland

Ireland is home to approximately 1.5 million dairy cows, spread over 17,500 farms (the vast majority of them owned by families) with a greater density in Munster. Ireland's dairy industry is a high quality grass based system with the cows spending over 240 days on pastures (grass accounts for 95% of its feed at this time). Ireland exports around 80% of the products of the dairy industry, of which most are cheese, butter, powders and dairy ingredients, with the largest destinations being the UK, The Netherlands, China, Germany and the US. Liquid milk accounts, for local markets, is a relatively small proportion of the industry.

The Irish dairy industry has undergone significant changes over the past 10 years, with a 40% increase in the herd numbers and subsequently the output. In 2019, Irish dairy farms produced nearly 8 billion litres of milk and accounted for €4.4 billion of exports . The vast majority of this is a direct result of the abolition of quotas in 2015. According to Bord Bia the Irish dairy sector is "striving to be a global leader in the development of a high value, environmentally sustainable dairy industry based on our extensive grass-based dairy system".  

Dairy Facts & Figures

• There are 17,500 Dairy Farms in Ireland, with 1.5 million cows (+400,000 cows in the last 5 years)
• The average herd size approx. 90 cows
• The average production: 450,000 litres
• The average yield per cow is 5,300 litres (relatively low yield reflects grass-based system)
• National milk production: 8 billion litres (2019)
• Production is essentially grass-based, and therefore very seasonal, with the majority of milk produced in the summer months. 
• Production has increased since 2015 as a result of the ending of milk quotas.
• There are numerous dairy processors around Ireland, large and small, including Kerry Group, Avonmore, Arrabawn, Glanbia and Dairygold.
• These processors generally use the milk to produce liquid milk but mostly dairy products like cheese, butter, powders and numerous dairy ingredients.